Gangs of New York "Perfect"
12-06-02, 07:50 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Roscoe, IL USA
Posts: 521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gangs of New York "Perfect"
I was watching FoxNews this morning and they had a senior editor from the magazine In Touch Weekly talking about the upcoming movies. He was gushing over Gangs of New York and said it is "perfect" and will win best picture. He also said Daniel Day-Lewis will be nominated for best actor.
Looks like Scorsese might finally have the movie that will win him an oscar with all the great reviews I've seen so far.
Looks like Scorsese might finally have the movie that will win him an oscar with all the great reviews I've seen so far.
12-06-02, 09:57 PM
#2
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 2,202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Was that based on the trailer or the whole movie??
I hope Scorcese gets that oscar b4 he croaks!!
He should have one best director for GOODFELLAS + RAGING BULL imo
I hope Scorcese gets that oscar b4 he croaks!!
He should have one best director for GOODFELLAS + RAGING BULL imo
I'm still hesitant about this film.
12-06-02, 10:25 PM
#4
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Montreal, Canada
Posts: 2,202
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Gangs of New York "Perfect"
He was gushing over Gangs of New York and said it is "perfect" and will win best picture. He also said Daniel Day-Lewis will be nominated for best actor.
th all the great reviews I've seen so far. [/B][/QUOTE]
How about more details what exactly did he go gaga over??
th all the great reviews I've seen so far. [/B][/QUOTE]
How about more details what exactly did he go gaga over??
12-06-02, 10:38 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 846
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From The Hollywood Reporter
Maybe less then perfect but i'ts been a long wait for this
film and i can't wait to see it.
By Kirk Honeycutt
Martin Scorsese's careerlong exploration of the role of violence in American society culminates in "Gangs of New York." The view here is that brutality and corruption played midwives to the American nation, that the American dream of liberty from European despotism, monarchy and aristocratic privilege ran afoul of the New World vices of bigotry and anarchy almost immediately. This is a relentless, pitch-black portrait of New York in 1863 that, while thoroughly rooted in historical fact, is nonetheless painted from limited pigments.
Astonishing and audacious, the film certainly creates a kind of perverse beauty and excitement out of its horrors. Scorsese seems to want the viewer to get a voyeuristic rush from gut-spilling fights featuring knives, cleavers and bats. And just as certainly, "Gangs" poses a major challenge to Miramax's marketing department.
Here is a movie from arguably America's most brilliant filmmaker, yet one so dark and disturbing you might label it a "feel-bad" movie. It's a gangster film, one of cinema's more durable genres, yet mired in arcane history and forgotten political movements. Scorsese's reputation ensures a solid opening here and perhaps even better in Europe. But Miramax will have a hard time recouping the enormous cost of re-creating 19th century New York at Rome's Cinecitta Studios.
Inspired by Herbert Asbury's 1928 classic study, the script by Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian and Kenneth Lonergan embroils the viewer in a now-forgotten district of Lower Manhattan known as Five Points. Here everyone prays to one God or another, but in reality, God does not venture into this satanic terrain.
Ruled by an underworld barbarian known as Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis, in his first movie since 1997's "The Boxer"), the area's only business is crime: theft, racketeering, prostitution, gambling, drugs and murder. Bill has made a devil's alliance with Boss Tweed (Jim Broadbent), supplying muscle to the political boss who would rule the city. It is into this cauldron that immigrants, mostly Catholics despised by Nativists, surge on a daily basis.
Unlike Scorsese's previous gangster movies, such as "GoodFellas" or "Casino," there is little complexity to this 1863 underworld. There is a bad guy in Bill the Butcher, who carves up people and pigs with equal enthusiasm. And there is a young hero in an American-born Irish orphan named Amsterdam (Leonardo DiCaprio), determined to avenge Bill's murder of his father, Priest Vallon (Liam Neeson), an Irish immigrant leader, 16 years earlier.
Amsterdam somewhat implausibly worms his way into Bill's Nativist gang and then into his confidence, becoming a son to the chief. The lad gets involved romantically with a beauteous, headstrong pickpocket, Jenny (Cameron Diaz), who has links to Bill as well. Other characters fill out the rogue's gallery: Monk (Brendan Gleeson), a strong-arm enforcer settled into shopkeeping; Happy Jack (John C. Reilly), a former gang member-turned-corrupt copper; and Johnny (Henry Thomas), an Amsterdam loyalist with strong instincts for self-preservation.
Against the backdrop of the Civil War -- of President Lincoln's unpopular conscription and coffins arriving daily in the city -- come the political maneuverings of Boss Tweed and a betrayal that alerts Bill to Amsterdam's true intentions. This lead to a climax amid the worst riot in American history, the Draft Riots, where much of Manhattan was destroyed first by immigrant mobs, then by soldiers and Navy guns.
DiCaprio makes the protagonist's thirst for revenge and reclamation of family honor palpable. But he doesn't look the part of a street tough. Nor is the script helpful by insisting that despite 16 long years in a religious "house of refuge," he has lost none of his street smarts.
The film's great performance belongs to Day-Lewis, a sociopath given free reign to spill blood in copious amounts. Here anger -- at politicians, foreign "invaders," high society -- mingles with humor and a sense of detachment. He's illiterate yet understands how power works and how to hold it through terror.
Cinematographer Michael Ballhaus, designer Dante Ferretti and costumer Sandy Powell conspire to bring to life paintings and engravings of Old New York -- its interiors almost monochromatic, the streets filled with smoky colors and nights made sinister by gaslight and flickering fires that dot the landscape.
Yet this 168-minute movie, reportedly cut down from a 195-minute version, never gets you inside the story so you understand how the characters feel about their deeds. Whether or not a longer version would have given the film more texture and dimension, this one presents a blinkered vision of American history, relegated to a few streets and alleys of Lower Manhattan and a few thugs who left no mark except perhaps on the collective unconscious.
film and i can't wait to see it.
By Kirk Honeycutt
Martin Scorsese's careerlong exploration of the role of violence in American society culminates in "Gangs of New York." The view here is that brutality and corruption played midwives to the American nation, that the American dream of liberty from European despotism, monarchy and aristocratic privilege ran afoul of the New World vices of bigotry and anarchy almost immediately. This is a relentless, pitch-black portrait of New York in 1863 that, while thoroughly rooted in historical fact, is nonetheless painted from limited pigments.
Astonishing and audacious, the film certainly creates a kind of perverse beauty and excitement out of its horrors. Scorsese seems to want the viewer to get a voyeuristic rush from gut-spilling fights featuring knives, cleavers and bats. And just as certainly, "Gangs" poses a major challenge to Miramax's marketing department.
Here is a movie from arguably America's most brilliant filmmaker, yet one so dark and disturbing you might label it a "feel-bad" movie. It's a gangster film, one of cinema's more durable genres, yet mired in arcane history and forgotten political movements. Scorsese's reputation ensures a solid opening here and perhaps even better in Europe. But Miramax will have a hard time recouping the enormous cost of re-creating 19th century New York at Rome's Cinecitta Studios.
Inspired by Herbert Asbury's 1928 classic study, the script by Jay Cocks, Steven Zaillian and Kenneth Lonergan embroils the viewer in a now-forgotten district of Lower Manhattan known as Five Points. Here everyone prays to one God or another, but in reality, God does not venture into this satanic terrain.
Ruled by an underworld barbarian known as Bill the Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis, in his first movie since 1997's "The Boxer"), the area's only business is crime: theft, racketeering, prostitution, gambling, drugs and murder. Bill has made a devil's alliance with Boss Tweed (Jim Broadbent), supplying muscle to the political boss who would rule the city. It is into this cauldron that immigrants, mostly Catholics despised by Nativists, surge on a daily basis.
Unlike Scorsese's previous gangster movies, such as "GoodFellas" or "Casino," there is little complexity to this 1863 underworld. There is a bad guy in Bill the Butcher, who carves up people and pigs with equal enthusiasm. And there is a young hero in an American-born Irish orphan named Amsterdam (Leonardo DiCaprio), determined to avenge Bill's murder of his father, Priest Vallon (Liam Neeson), an Irish immigrant leader, 16 years earlier.
Amsterdam somewhat implausibly worms his way into Bill's Nativist gang and then into his confidence, becoming a son to the chief. The lad gets involved romantically with a beauteous, headstrong pickpocket, Jenny (Cameron Diaz), who has links to Bill as well. Other characters fill out the rogue's gallery: Monk (Brendan Gleeson), a strong-arm enforcer settled into shopkeeping; Happy Jack (John C. Reilly), a former gang member-turned-corrupt copper; and Johnny (Henry Thomas), an Amsterdam loyalist with strong instincts for self-preservation.
Against the backdrop of the Civil War -- of President Lincoln's unpopular conscription and coffins arriving daily in the city -- come the political maneuverings of Boss Tweed and a betrayal that alerts Bill to Amsterdam's true intentions. This lead to a climax amid the worst riot in American history, the Draft Riots, where much of Manhattan was destroyed first by immigrant mobs, then by soldiers and Navy guns.
DiCaprio makes the protagonist's thirst for revenge and reclamation of family honor palpable. But he doesn't look the part of a street tough. Nor is the script helpful by insisting that despite 16 long years in a religious "house of refuge," he has lost none of his street smarts.
The film's great performance belongs to Day-Lewis, a sociopath given free reign to spill blood in copious amounts. Here anger -- at politicians, foreign "invaders," high society -- mingles with humor and a sense of detachment. He's illiterate yet understands how power works and how to hold it through terror.
Cinematographer Michael Ballhaus, designer Dante Ferretti and costumer Sandy Powell conspire to bring to life paintings and engravings of Old New York -- its interiors almost monochromatic, the streets filled with smoky colors and nights made sinister by gaslight and flickering fires that dot the landscape.
Yet this 168-minute movie, reportedly cut down from a 195-minute version, never gets you inside the story so you understand how the characters feel about their deeds. Whether or not a longer version would have given the film more texture and dimension, this one presents a blinkered vision of American history, relegated to a few streets and alleys of Lower Manhattan and a few thugs who left no mark except perhaps on the collective unconscious.
12-07-02, 12:39 AM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Roscoe, IL USA
Posts: 521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: Re: Gangs of New York "Perfect"
Originally posted by shanester
How about more details what exactly did he go gaga over??
How about more details what exactly did he go gaga over??
Sorry I can't remember exactly what he said, I just remember bits and pieces. I know he said Daniel Day-Lewis is great and Leo is also very good, he also said it was an epic.
12-07-02, 01:17 AM
#10
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Sitting on a beach, earning 20%
Posts: 9,917
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
I love the trailer. Why? It's hilarious. The accents are so awful, the costumes poor, exagerated examples of the period's clothes, the sheer idiocy it in general... it looks like it'll be the funniest film of the year. Scorsese's 1941.
"Us NATIVES! Or The Fawrrin Haaaawds!"
"Us NATIVES! Or The Fawrrin Haaaawds!"
12-07-02, 01:53 AM
#11
DVD Talk Gold Edition
i'm lukewarm to most of Scorcese's stuff, but he was on Charlie Rose today, and it was a great interview.
Day Lewis was there too and they showed some clips, and i'm not surprised that a critic is singling him out. if i went to see it, it would be based on what i saw of him- very strong, interesting presence.
the production design looks incredible too.
also, just so it doesn't become a topic later- MS has said there will be NO directors cut of this.
the final theatrical version is his directors cut, so just forget about the other 30 minutes.
he sounded resigned to the fact that he "did the best he could" after editing this film for quite a long time.
Day Lewis was there too and they showed some clips, and i'm not surprised that a critic is singling him out. if i went to see it, it would be based on what i saw of him- very strong, interesting presence.
the production design looks incredible too.
also, just so it doesn't become a topic later- MS has said there will be NO directors cut of this.
the final theatrical version is his directors cut, so just forget about the other 30 minutes.
he sounded resigned to the fact that he "did the best he could" after editing this film for quite a long time.
12-07-02, 02:30 AM
#12
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
I love the trailer. Why? It's hilarious. The accents are so awful, the costumes poor, exagerated examples of the period's clothes
And those hats kick ass!! :P :P
12-07-02, 11:44 AM
#13
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Cromwell, CT
Posts: 5,494
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
[QUOTE]Originally posted by DonnachaOne
the costumes poor, exagerated examples of the period's clothes.
It scares me that you're an authority on the costumes/clothes of the period...
the costumes poor, exagerated examples of the period's clothes.
It scares me that you're an authority on the costumes/clothes of the period...
12-07-02, 02:13 PM
#15
DVD Talk Legend
I hope the critic is right, but if this film opens poorly, then no one will pay anymore heed to it I fear. 
Bear in mind it faces off against Two Towers opening weekend and then will have to contend with its own star with Catch me if you can.
Bear in mind it faces off against Two Towers opening weekend and then will have to contend with its own star with Catch me if you can.
12-07-02, 03:34 PM
#17
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by Dr. DVD
I hope the critic is right, but if this film opens poorly, then no one will pay anymore heed to it I fear.
Bear in mind it faces off against Two Towers opening weekend and then will have to contend with its own star with Catch me if you can.
I hope the critic is right, but if this film opens poorly, then no one will pay anymore heed to it I fear.
Bear in mind it faces off against Two Towers opening weekend and then will have to contend with its own star with Catch me if you can.
12-07-02, 09:56 PM
#19
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: I was here but I disappear
Posts: 8,407
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, I just saw it and it's a masterpiece. Not perfect, but tremendous in its scope and in its humanity. I'll be writing multiple Cinema Gotham columns on this one so keep your eyes peeled. It's an extraordinary film. I'm just trying to gather my thoughts right now and make some notes.
12-07-02, 10:08 PM
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by buskerdog
Well, I just saw it and it's a masterpiece. Not perfect, but tremendous in its scope and in its humanity. I'll be writing multiple Cinema Gotham columns on this one so keep your eyes peeled. It's an extraordinary film. I'm just trying to gather my thoughts right now and make some notes.
Well, I just saw it and it's a masterpiece. Not perfect, but tremendous in its scope and in its humanity. I'll be writing multiple Cinema Gotham columns on this one so keep your eyes peeled. It's an extraordinary film. I'm just trying to gather my thoughts right now and make some notes.
Good to hear, I'll read your review.
12-08-02, 03:42 AM
#21
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
The trailer doesn't interest me much either, and I think Leo ruined a few films I almost liked (I can't see him do rage, comes off like a 4 year old who spilt his milk) but if it's good, then it's good.
And again, those hats kick ass! I want one!
And again, those hats kick ass! I want one!
12-08-02, 12:15 PM
#22
DVD Talk Legend
Originally posted by BizRodian
And again, those hats kick ass! I want one!
And again, those hats kick ass! I want one!
I really want to see this movie but fear I might not have the time what with taking in multiple viewings of Two Towers and all!
Overall, I really hope Scorsese wins for this and it gets some major recognition. I'm sick of seeing possibly the only remaining film theorist and maker that does anything get screwed over time and again. How wide will the December 20th release of this movie be anyway?
12-08-02, 04:52 PM
#25
DVD Talk Special Edition
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,371
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gangs of New York will probably have a decent opening weekend and then will be quickley swallowed up by The Two Towers. I saw the trailer in front of the new Bond movie, it just doesn't look like something I'm interested in seeing. And at a running time, of what I've heard, at over 3 hours that might be enough to disuade people from seeing it.
Now one might say "The Two Towers is going to run close to 3 hours why will people see that and not Gangs?". The Two Towers is coming off an enormous amount of momentum generated by the Fellowship DVD's and it already has a huge audience with those who've already read the books.
Just my opinion.
Now one might say "The Two Towers is going to run close to 3 hours why will people see that and not Gangs?". The Two Towers is coming off an enormous amount of momentum generated by the Fellowship DVD's and it already has a huge audience with those who've already read the books.
Just my opinion.